Reviews and comments

Clarinet Unlimited - the Clarinet Music of Norbert Goddaer

Kelly Johnson - Clarinet - Gail Novak - Piano

A review by Michael Webster, USA

Recommended is a disc of solo and chamber works by Belgian composer Norbert Goddaer entitled Clarinet Unlimited. This recording is per formed by young clarinetist Kelly Johnson assisted by four colleagues, and is produced by Ms. Johnson and one of her former teachers, Robert Spring. The recording pulls together on one disc six clarinet works of Norbert Goddaer, a number of which have been heard at I.C.A. meetings in recent years. In general these works are well written for the clarinet and in a accessible 20th century style which at times is quite 'laid back' and lightly jazzy, and at other times quite brilliant and virtuosic. The opening word Clarinet Unlimited is the disc's title piece and is also for solo clarinet. It is a striking five-minute virtuoso piece written for Kelly Johnson and immediately establishes Ms. Johnson for this listener, as a formidable young artist who possesses smooth and controlled finger technique, remarkable articulation skills, and a lovely colored sound. She is the principal clarinetist of the Arkansas Symphony and is the clarinet professor at Arkansas Tech University. She has been heard at several I.C.A. ClarFests and received a DMA degree from Arizona State University.

Norbert Goddaer has had a working relationship with numerous members I.C.A. officers and members over the years, and three of the remaining five pieces included on this disc were written for I.C.A. notables. Ms. Johnson is joined by pianist Gail Novak in the Aubade of 1998 (composed for James Gillespie) and the piano reduction of the Concerto for Clarinet (originally for clarinet and band and dedicated to Belgium clarinetist Eddy Vanoosthuyse).

She is joined by percussionist Thomas Burrit in the Sonata for clarinet and percussion (written for Robert Spring), and by clarinetist colleagues Mary Lollis, Deborah Bish, and Lisa Oberlander in Turbulences for clarinet quartet. Additionally, the disc includes Cool Inventions for clarinet and (in the original form) string orchestra, here performed in a version with synthesizer. This piece was written for Howard Klug.

Each of these attractive works receive first rate performances by all involved. Kelly Johnson's playing is musically convincing throughout, and we are indebted to her for bringing these pieces together on one disc, and so well presented....

Kelly Johnson holds the D.M.A. in Clarinet Performance and the M.M. degree in Clarinet Performance from Arizona State University, where she was selected as Outstanding Graduate Performance Student in 1994. She currently teaches Applied Clarinet, Theory, and Woodwind Instruments at Tech. Professor Johnson is principal clarinetist with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared as soloist with bands and orchestras from Missouri, Kansas, Arizona, and Arkansas. Johnson has also performed as recitalist at the 1998 and 1999 International Clarinet Association Conventions.

Her new CD, titled Clarinet Unlimited, features the clarinet works of Belgian composer Norbert Goddaer. A 1995 member of the National Orchestra Institute, Professor Johnson was a national finalist for the 1993 and 1995 MTNA-Wurlitzer Collegiate Artist Competitions.

Beautiful Morning, Wonderful Day

A review by Stephen Clark, USA

Norbert Goddaer's wonderful and very clever arrangement of Rodgers' and Hammerstein's Broadway hit 'Oklahoma'.

It featured an extensive medley of familiar tunes from this groundbreaking musical including : 'Oh, What a Beautiful Morning','Surrey with the Fringe on the Top' and, of course, the title song, 'Oklahoma!, among others...

Desert's Edge Clarinet and Percussion Duo

Robert Spring and J. B. Smith have been performing together since 1989.They gave recitals at the 1991, 1995 and 2002 International Clarinet Association conventions, and the 1994 Music Educators National Conference. They have performed at numerous U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities, including the University of North Texas, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, the University of Illinois, Florida State University, the University of Miami, Indiana University and Oberlin College. Numerous compositions have been written for them including Glenn Hackbarth's "Points in the Sky," Eric Mandat's "Three for Two" and Norbert Goddaer's "Sonata for Clarinet and Percussion." Their CD, At the Desert's Edge, is available online from Amazon.com.

Een leuk werk voor bugel en harmonie is 'Escapism' van Norbert Goddaer...

Een recensie door Francis Pieters (Belgium)

Dit briljante solostuk voor flugelhorn en harmonieorkest werd geschreven door Norbert Goddaer. 'Escapism' is een virtuose swingende muzikale uitstap waarbij de solist het rijke klankenpalet van de bugel demonstreert.

The first CD The Kortrijk Brass Band "Hymn to my Home Town" appeared end October 1994. The composer Norbert Goddaer who is a resident off Kortrijk especially wrote himself.

Uit het repertorium van de KBB : 'NEXUS'

Commentaar van Fred Brouwers:

'NEXUS' is een omstrengeling van signalen.
Na de expositie volgt een ritmische doorwerking waarin de verschillende kopergroepen aan bod komen, ondersteund door een krachtig repetitief patroon.
Het hoogtepunt is een 'nexus' van thema's men eindigt in een statige canon.

'Duets' for Bb Clarinets includes eight movements and is a chronicle about daily impressions and is dedicated to John Scott and James Gillespie, Professors D.M.A. at the University of Notth Texas, Denton.